Memory apparatus

ABSTRACT

When the determined result represents that a read request has been received, it is determined whether or not there is a read address that has been designated in a particular area. When the determined result represents that there is a read address that has been designated in the particular area, the process is terminated. In other words, the process is completed although data is not read. When the determined result represents that there is no read address that has been designated in the particular area, data is read from the designated address of the memory. The data that has been read is supplied to a host device. After the data has been read, a read address stored in for example a register is written to the particular area. The address from which data has been read is appended to the particular area. In such a manner, data that has been read from the host device is prohibited from being accessed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a memory apparatus that uses an irreversible writing memory that allows the security of data stored therein to be improved.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, memory cards of which a flash memory and a control portion therefor are integrated have been practically used as data record mediums. For example, still pictures photographed by a digital camera are recorded to a memory card. A memory card that uses a flash memory allows data to be written a plurality of number of times. In addition, memory cards have been used as storage mediums that store copyrighted data distributed through an electronic music distribution.

[0003] Since a flash memory is an erasable memory, it can be restored to the initial state any time. In addition, since data stored in a flash memory can be relatively easily forged, the security of authentication data, password, encryption key data, and so forth stored in a flash memory is weak. Moreover, in a device that uses a conventional memory card, after data is read therefrom, the data is not erased in the memory card. Thus, a copy of data that has been read from the memory card can be made. Thus, there is a problem from a view point of copyright protection.

[0004] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a memory apparatus that allows the security of data stored therein to be improved and prevents data stored therein from being copied.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To solve the forgoing problems, the invention of claim 1 is a memory apparatus, comprising an irreversibly write memory, a control circuit that controls a writing operation and a reading operation for the irreversibly write memory, and a data buffer circuit, wherein when data that has been written is read, after data is read from the memory to the data buffer circuit, a data area from which the data has been read is overwritten so that the data area is prohibited from being irreversibly written.

[0006] The invention of claim 2 is a memory apparatus, comprising an irreversibly write memory, a control circuit that controls a writing operation and a reading operation for the irreversibly write memory, and a data buffer circuit, wherein an area that stores reproduction restriction information is formed in the irreversibly write memory or in an irreversibly write memory disposed in the control circuit, and wherein when-data that has been written is read, if the reading operation is restricted by the reproduction restriction information, the reading operation is prohibited.

[0007] The invention of claim 3 is a memory apparatus, comprising an irreversibly write memory, a control circuit that controls a writing operation and a reading operation for the irreversibly write memory, and a data buffer circuit wherein an area that stores a reading operation count value that represents that the number of times of which data has been read from the memory is formed in the irreversibly write memory or in an irreversibly write memory of the control circuit, wherein when data that has been written is read, the area that stores the reading operation count value is overwritten so that the area is prohibited from being irreversibly written, and wherein when all the area that stores the reading operation count value has been irreversibly written, the reading operation is prohibited.

[0008] According to the present invention, when data is read from the memory, since an overwriting operation is performed so that the data area thereof is prohibited from being irreversibly written, the security of data stored in the memory is improved. When a reproducing operation for data stored in the memory is restricted, since reproduction restriction information is written to an irreversibly write memory, the reproduction restriction information is prevented from being forged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a memory apparatus according to the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2A an FIG. 2B are schematic diagrams for explaining an overwriting operation for data and an overwriting operation for reproducing operation count information according to the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a first example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a second example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a third example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining a fourth example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining a fifth example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining a sixth example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining a seventh example of the data reading operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows the structure of a memory apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. A host device (not shown) and a memory apparatus 1 are connected through for example a serial interface. The memory apparatus 1 has a control IC 2 and a memory 3. The memory apparatus 1 is formed in a card shape so that it can be attached and detached to and from the host device.

[0019] The host device generates data to be written to the memory apparatus 1. In addition, the host device reads data from the memory apparatus 1 and performs a variety of data processes using data that has been read from the memory apparatus 1. The host device is for example a digital electronic camera. The host device writes a photographed picture to the memory apparatus 1. Moreover, the host device reads a picture from the memory apparatus 1. Another example of the host device is an audio recording/reproducing apparatus. In this case, compressed audio data is written to the memory apparatus 1. In addition, compressed audio data is read from the memory apparatus 1.

[0020] The control IC 2 has an interface 4. a register 5, a page buffer 6, an a memory interface 7. The interface 4 interfaces with the host device. Data (write data or read data and command data), a control signal. a power, and so forth are exchanged between the host device and the memory apparatus 1 through the interface 4. The register 5 stores addresses. The page buffer 6 temporarily stores write data or read data. The control IC 2 and the memory 3 may be integrated as one IC device. On the other hand, the control IC may not be composed of only one IC. The memory interface 7 is an interface disposed between the control IC 2 and the memory 3. The control IC 2 is provided with a sequencer (controller) composed of a CPU (not shown).

[0021] The memory 3 is an irreversibly write memory that is a one-time-writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The memory 3 is referred to as OTP (One Time Programmable ROM). In other words, once data is written to the memory 3, the data cannot be erased. Even if the power of the memory 3 is turned off, the stored data is retained. In the memory 3, data is read and written with a predetermined data amount at a time. The memory 3 is provided with a boot area that is read by the host device immediately after the memory is attached thereto. In the boot area, various types of information such as attribute information are prerecorded.

[0022] As was described above, the memory 3 is irreversible with respect to the writing operation. In other words, once the initial state of a portion of the memory 3 is changed, it cannot be restored to the initial state. On the other hand, a portion that has not been changed from the initial state can be changed later. FIG. 2 shows a state change of the memory. In FIG. 2, each square area represents a data unit for example a bit. Each white area represents a non-changed (initial state) data unit for example a “0” bit. Each black area represents a data unit that has been changed by the writing operation. In other words, each black area represents an irreversibly written data unit for example a “1” bit.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2A, all data units are changed from initial state to data written state. After data is stored, when it becomes unnecessary, all the data units are changed to the irreversibly written state. As a result, the resultant data becomes meaningless data. This operation is equivalent to a data erasing process. The irreversibly written memory 3 may be provided with a counter area that records reproduction restriction information for example a data reading operation count value (reproducing operation count value) N.

[0024]FIG. 2B shows a process for the counter area. Whenever a data unit is reproduced from the initial state (N=0), the data unit is changed to an irreversibly written data unit. FIG. 2B also shows a state (N=3) and a state (N=5). In FIG. 2B, since there are eight data units, the reproducing operation permission value is eight. When the reproducing operation permission value becomes (N=8), all the data units have been changed to the irreversibly written data units. In this case, it is possible to directly change the state (N=5) to the state (N=8). In the (N=8) state, further data cannot be written. This state is equivalent to the state that data has been erased. Since the irreversibly write memory is provided with the counter area, it is impossible to forge data that represents the reproducing operation count value or the reproducing operation permission value. Thus, the copyright of data can be securely protected.

[0025] Next, several examples of processes performed with the memory apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation that simultaneously reads data from the memory apparatus 1 and erases data therefrom. This operation is controlled by a sequencer with which the control IC 2 is provided.

[0026] At step S1 shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not a read request has been received from the host device. When a read command and a read address are received from the host device, the flow advances to step S2. At step S2, the read address is stored to the register 5. At step S3, data is read from a designated address of the memory 3. The read data is stored to the page buffer 6. In addition, the data is output from the page buffer 6 to the host device through the interface 4. Alternatively, the read data may be directly supplied to the host side without an intervention of the page buffer 6. After the data has been read from the memory 3, the flow advances to step S4. At step S4, with reference to the read address stored in the register 5, the data of the address is erased. Thus, in the process shown in FIG. 3, data can be read from the memory 3 only one time.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of another process. At step S11, it is determined whether or not a read request has been received. When the determined result at step S11 represents that a read request has been received, the flow advances to step S12. At step S12, it is determined whether or not there is a designated read address in a particular area. The particular area is a particular area of the memory 3 or the control IC 2. When a nonvolatile irreversibly write memory is disposed in the control IC 2 along with the memory 3, the particular area can be formed. When the determined result represents that there is an address in the particular area, the process is terminated. In other words, although data is not read, the process is terminated. In reality, the host device receives error information instead of read data corresponding to a read command that the host device has sent to the memory 3. Thus, the host device recognizes that it cannot read the data. In other processes that will be described with reference to respective flow charts, when data cannot be read, the similar process is performed.

[0028] When the determined result represents that there is no address in the particular area, data is read from the designated address of the memory 3. The read data is supplied to the host device (at step S13). Thereafter, the flow advances to step S14. At step S14, the read address stored in the register 5 is written to the particular area. The read address is appended to the particular area. In this case, the particular area may have an address map. Address map data corresponding to the read address may be changed to irreversibly written data. At step S12, the map may be referenced.

[0029] Thus, in the operation shown in FIG. 4, when data is read from the memory 3, the read data is not erased therefrom. Instead, the memory 3 is controlled so that the host device cannot access data that has been read from the memory 3. Alternatively, data may be erased from the memory 3 so that the data cannot be accessed at all. In this case, the security of data may be more improved than the operation shown in FIG. 4. In other words, at step S25 of a flow chart shown in FIG. 5, a process that erases data that has been read from the memory 3 is added. Steps S21, S22, S23, and S24 shown in FIG. 5 correspond to steps S11, S12, S13, and S14 shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation that designates the reproduction restriction value and that reads (reproduces) data from the memory 3 until the designated value becomes zero. When the determined result at step S31 represents that a read request has been received, the flow advance to step S32. At step S32, the reproducing operation count value and the reproducing operation permission value are read from the particular area. As was described above, the particular area is formed in the memory 3 or the control IC 2. When data is recorded, the reproducing operation permission value is pre-written to the particular area. When a copyright owner distributes a content such as video and/or audio data, he or she can record both the reproducing operation permission value and the content data to the memory apparatus. As a result, the copyright of the content data can be protected.

[0031] As was described with reference to FIG. 2B, in the particular area, the reproducing operation permission value is pre-designated for example eight. Whenever data is reproduced one time, one data unit is changed to irreversibly written data. The area shown in FIG. 2B is read at step S32. At step S33, it is determined whether or not the condition of (reproducing operation count value N<reproducing operation permission value?) is satisfied corresponding to the state of the particular area. When the condition is not satisfied, since (N≧reproducing operation permission value), the reproducing operation is prohibited and thereby the process is terminated.

[0032] When the condition of (reproducing operation count value N<reproducing operation permission value), the reproducing operation can be performed. In such a case, the flow advances to step S34. At step S34, data is read from the designated address of the memory 3. The read data is supplied to the host device through the page buffer 6 and the interface 4 (at step S34). Thereafter, the reproducing operation count value is appended to the particular area (at step S35).

[0033] The operation shown in FIG. 6 controls the memory 3 so that after the host device has read data from the memory 3, the host device is prohibited from accessing the data without erasing the data from the memory 3. Alternatively, data stored in the memory 3 may be erased so that the host device is prevented from being accessing the data. As a result, the security of data may be more improved than the operation shown in FIG. 6. In other words, at step S46 of a flow chart shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether the condition of (reproducing operation count value N≧reproducing operation permission value?) is satisfied. When the reproducing operation count value does not match the reproducing operation permission value, the process is terminated. When the determined result at step S46 represents that the reproducing operation count value N matches the reproducing operation permission value, the flow advances to step S47. At step S47, meaningless data is overwritten to the memory 3. As a result, the read data is erased. Steps S41, S42, S43, S44, and S45 shown in FIG. 7 correspond to steps S31, S32, S33, S34, and S35 shown in FIG. 6, respectively.

[0034] Next, with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 8, another example of the method that restricts (the number of times of) the reproducing operation will be described. When the determined result at step S51 shown in FIG. 8 represents that a read request has been received, the flow advances to step S52. At step S52, the reproducing operation permission value is read from the particular area. At step S53, it is determined whether or not the condition of (reproducing operation permission value>0?) is satisfied. When the determined result represents that the condition is not satisfied, the process is terminated.

[0035] When the determined result at step S53 represents that the reproducing operation permission value is larger than 0, the flow advances to step S54. At step S54, data is read from the memory 3 and supplied to the host device (at step S54). At step S55, the reproducing operation count value is appended to the particular area. As a result, the reproducing operation permission value is decremented by 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the reproducing operation permission value is pre-designated eight in the initial state. Whenever data is reproduced one time, the state of one data unit is changed. At step S52, the number of (white) data units that have not been changed is read as the reproducing operation permission value.

[0036] The operation shown in FIG. 8 controls the memory 3 so that the host device is prohibited from accessing data that has been read from the memory 3 without erasing the data from the memory 3. Alternatively, data may be erased from the memory 3 so that the host device cannot access the data at all. In this case, the security of data can be more improved than the operation shown in FIG. 8. In other words, at step S66 of a flow chart shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the condition of (reproducing operation permission value>0?) is satisfied. When the condition is satisfied (namely, the reproducing operation can be further performed), the process is terminated. In contrast, when the determined result at step S66 represents that the condition is not satisfied, the flow advances to step S67. At step S67, the read data is erased. Steps S61, S62, S63, S64, and S65 shown in FIG. 9 correspond to steps S51, S52, S53, S54, and S55 shown in FIG. 8, respectively.

[0037] In addition to the reproducing operation and erasing operation for a data file such as a music data file recorded in a memory, the forgoing embodiment of the present invention can be applied to key data that decrypts encrypted data so as to erase or restrict the number of times of reproducing operation for the key data in the forgoing manner.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the forgoing embodiment. In other words, various modifications and applications of the present invention are available without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, according to the forgoing embodiment, the number of times of reproducing operation is restricted. Instead, the total time or valid period (from start date to end date) for which data can be reproduced may be recorded in the irreversibly write memory. In addition, the present invention can be applied to cash, electronic money, and prepaid card that records points or the like that permit a reproducing operation. Corresponding to the value.that has been used, data is updated. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to a delivery for an initial password. In this case, when the initial password is read, it is erased. As a result, the security of the initial password is protected.

[0039] According to the present invention, when data is read, the data that has been read is overwritten so that the data is prohibited from being irreversibly written. Thus, even if the memory device is disassembled and the memory is removed, it is impossible to read internal data. As a result, high security is assured. When a flash memory is used, a special structure that prevents the memory from being illegally accessed should be provided. As a result, the cost of the apparatus adversely rises. In contrast, the cost of the irreversibly write memory is lower than the cost of the flash memory. In addition, when the present invention is applied to the irreversibly write memory, a special structure that assures the security of data is not required. Thus, the cost of the apparatus can be further reduced. In addition, when the reproducing operation is restricted, reproduction restriction information is written to the irreversibly write memory. As a result, the reproduction restriction information can be prevented from being forged. 

1. A memory apparatus, comprising: an irreversibly write memory; a control circuit that controls a writing operation and a reading operation for the irreversibly write memory; and a data buffer circuit, wherein when data that has been written is read, after data is read from the memory to the data buffer circuit, a data area from which the data has been read is overwritten so that the data area is prohibited from being irreversibly written.
 2. A memory apparatus, comprising: an irreversibly write memory; a control circuit that controls a writing operation and a reading operation for the irreversibly write memory; and a data buffer circuit, wherein an area that stores reproduction restriction information is formed in the irreversibly write memory or in an irreversibly write memory disposed in the control circuit, and wherein when data that has been written is read, if the reading operation is restricted by the reproduction restriction information, the reading operation is prohibited.
 3. A memory apparatus, comprising: an irreversibly write memory; a control circuit that controls a writing operation and a reading operation for the irreversibly write memory; and a data buffer circuit, wherein an area that stores a reading operation count value that represents that the number of times of which data has been read from the memory is formed in the irreversibly write memory or in an irreversibly write memory of the control circuit, wherein when data that has been written is read, the area that stores the reading operation count value is overwritten so that the area is prohibited from being irreversibly written, and wherein when all the area that stores the reading operation count value has been irreversibly written, the reading operation is prohibited.
 4. The memory apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein when all the area that stores the reading operation count value has been irreversibly written, the data area from which the data has been read is overwritten so that the data area is prohibited from being irreversibly written.
 5. The memory apparatus as set forth in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the irreversibly write memory is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory that can be attached and detached to and from the host device. 